Publication At CES

From pre-historic times, plants have been an inseparable part of human life; plants were used for food, shelter, clothing, medicine for curing diseases and for ensuring well-being. Almost all branches of medicine used plants directly or their extracts to cure diseases. Of the 15,000 plants found in India, about 2,500 have medicinal properties. Of these, only 540 species are currently used for making herbal medicines.

Healing Plants of Ettimadai Campus is a booklet that contains information about species found in Amrita's Ettimadai Campus and those that are suitable for the area. The source of inspiration for this compilation was a research project on ex-situ conservation, cultivation and propagation of medicinal plants funded by National Medicinal Board, Government of India.

Medicinal plants in and around the Amrita campus were documented by exploratory surveys and added to the list. The list of plants is not exhaustive. However, for a novice, this booklet is an excellent source of information on medicinal plants that can inspire one to learn more about them.

Since its inception in 2004, the Center for Environmental Studies has continually strived to promote research in biodiversity conservation, medicinal plants, eco-restoration and waste management.

Around 160 species of medicinal plants were collected and evaluated for their sustainability in semi-arid regions; a collection is maintained in the Center's nursery. This was done as part of a project funded by the National Medicinal Plant Board under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of AYUSH.

Nursery and field trials were conducted in two zones -- a humid zone at Walayar and a semi-arid zone in Ettimadai -- for testing the suitability of plants for these two agro-climatic and soil conditions. Species suited to semi-arid conditions were identified and planted on campus. Selected species were propagated in large numbers and distributed to farmers in the village for cultivation as well.

In 1998, I joined the Amrita Institutions at Ettimadai. In October 1997, I came to campus and met Br. Abhayamrita Chaitanya. Swamiji told me that he was looking for a horticulturist to take charge of campus development and landscaping activities. I had completed several projects in landscaping, both for public and private institutions, and had derived immense satisfaction from them. I saw an opportunity to serve Amma in a practical way resolved to begin soon.

After the work began, there were several hurdles. I was all alone; there were no skilled laborers with me. We did not entrust the work to a contractor. As the landscaping and tree planting progressed, however, there was a visible change in the look of the campus. There was a need to complete the task fast, since a proposal had been submitted to the UGC for Amrita becoming a “deemed to be University”. In the year 2000, we were able to complete the work. The campus landscape had become serene and beautiful.